Arabic Authors | Page 8

independent rulers, while Aden has been held by the English ever since its first capture in A.D. 1839. In other words, the present position of Arabia may be more definitely described as follows: Hasa, Hareek, the whole of Nejd, Kaseem, the provinces adjoining Yaman on the north, and Aseer, forming a broad belt, and stretching across the centre of the peninsula from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, remain under Wahhabi influences. The Hijaz and some sea-ports, such as Jedda and others, are at present absolutely under the Turkish Government; while Bahrein, Oman and its capital Muscat, and Yaman are more or less independent. Between Nejd and Syria a new and promising kingdom has sprung up under Telal.
The time perhaps may come, and perhaps not far distant, when the Turks will disappear altogether from Arabia, and Wahhabism and independent tribes will alone remain. Another Muhammad or another Abdul Wahhab may some day again appear, and bring together the tribes under one rule for a time. It is doubtful, though, if ever the Arabs will again have the power, talent, or enthusiasm to revive the glories of the Arabian Empire, which now lives in history only, and is well worth a study.
For ready reference the following is a chronology of the dynasty of the Ornaiyides, preceded by Muhammad and the first Khalifahs:
A.D. Muhammad the Apostle 622--632 Abu Bakr 632--634 Omar I. 634--643 Othman 643--655 Ali 655--660 1. Moawia I. 660--679 2. Yazid I. 679--683 3. Moawia II. 683--683 4. Marwan I. 683--684 5. Abdul-Malik 684--705 6. Walid I. 705--715 7. Sulaiman 715--717 8. Omar II. 717--720 9. Yazid II. 720--724 10. Hashim 724--743 11. Walid II. 743--744 12. Yazid III. 744--744 13. Ibrahim 744--744 14. Marwan II. 744--750
The dynasty of the Omaiyides was followed by that of the Abbasides, who reigned as follows:
A.D. 1. Abul-Abbas As-Saffah 750--754 2. Al-Mansur 754--775 3. Al-Mahdi 775--785 4. Al-Hadi 785--786 5. Harun-ar-Rashid 786--809 6. Al-Amin 809--812 7. Al-Mamun 812--833 8. Al-Mo'tasim Billah 833--842 9. Al-Wathik 842--847 10. Al-Mutwakkil 847--861 11. Al-Mustansir Billah 861--862 12. Al-Mustain Billah 862--866 13. Al-Mo'tiz Billah 866--869 14. Al-Muhtadi Billah 869--870 15. Al-Mo'tamid 870--892 16. Al-Motazid Billah 892--902 17. Al-Muktafi Billah 902--908 18. Al-Muktadir Billah 908--932 19. Al-Kahir Billah 932--934 20. Al-Radhi Billah 934--940 21. Al-Muttaki Billah 940--944 22. Al-Mustakfi Billah 944--945 23. Al-Mutia Billah 945--974 24. Al-Taya Billah 974--991 25. Al-Kadir Billah 991--1031 26. Al-Kaim Billah 1031--1075 27. Al-Muktadi Billah 1075--1094 28. Al-Mustazhir Billah 1094--1118 29. Al-Mustershid Billah 1118--1135 30. Al-Rashid Billah 1135--1136 31. Al-Muktafi 1136--1160 32. Al-Mustanjid Billah 1160--1170 33. Al-Mustazi 1170--1180 34. Al-Nasir Billah 1180--1225 35. Al-Tahir 1225--1226 36. Al-Mustansir Billah II. 1226--1240 37. Al-Mustaa'sim Billah 1240--1258
He was killed at the taking of Baghdad by Halaku Khan, and the last of the dynasty, which continued, however, as a spiritual power in Egypt till A.D. 1517.
The empire over which the Abbasides began to rule in A.D. 750 had gradually dwindled away until little but Baghdad and its environs were left on the fall of the dynasty in A.D. 1258. Will history repeat itself in the same way as regards Constantinople, which in some years may be the only territory left in Europe to a people who once were conquerors, and whose arms even were carried to the walls of Vienna? As Persia, Egypt, Syria, parts of Africa and Arabia, by degrees, were severed from the Abbaside Empire, so the different provinces of Turkey in Europe appear to be slowly separating themselves from the Turkish Power, until finally there will be nothing left to them in Europe but that city whose splendid position will ever make it a bone of contention to both rising and declining States.
The following is a list of the Omaiyides who ruled in Spain a.d. 756 to 1031:
A.D. 1. Abd-ar-Rahman I. 756-788 2. Hisham I. 788-796 3. Al-Hakim I. 796-822 4. Abd-ar-Rahman II. 822-852 5. Muhammad I. 852-886 6. Al-Mundhir 886-888 7. Abd-Allah 888-912 8. Abd-ar-Rahman III. 912-961
He was one of the greatest of the rulers of Cordova. Under this prince, who at last assumed the title of Khalif and Commander of the Faithful, the unity of Muhammadan Spain was for the time restored.
A.D. 9. Al-Hakim II. 961-976 10. Hisham II. 976-1009
He was a Khalif only in name, while Muhammad Bin Ali Amir, surnamed Al-Mansur, was the real ruler or regent till his death in A.D. 1002. He was succeeded by his son, Abd-al-Malik, who ruled successfully till his death in A.D. 1008, and was followed by his brother, Abd-ar-Rahman, who was beheaded in A.D. 1009, Hisham II. having been previously deposed.
A.D. 11. Muhammad II. (Al-Mahdi-billah) 1009-1009 12. Sulaiman 1009-1010 Hisham II. for the second time 1010-1013 Sulaiman for the second time 1013-1016 (1) Ali bin Hammud, a Berber chief 1016-1018 13. Abd-ar-Rahman IV. 1018-1019 (2) Al Kasim bin Hammud 1019-1023 14. Abd-ar-Rahman V. 1023-1024